Improvement in combined inhalers and nasal douches



E. SCHUFIELD.

Combined inhalers and Nasal Douche's.

'N0.135,372, Patentedlan.28,1 873.

AM FHUTU-LITHOGRAPHIC 00. N Hosea/M53 macEsQ) UNITED STATES.

PATENT DF Ion.

EDWIN SOHOFIELD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED INHALERS AND NASAL DOUCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,372, dated January 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN SononrELn, of the city and county of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful combined Inhaler and Nasal Douche; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of my combined inhaler and nasal douche. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same with the pipebowl removed. Fig. 3 represents the apparatus as used for a nasal douche.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and convenient apparatus for facilitatiug the application of medical vapors, fumes, or baths, to the membranes or tissues afl'ected in cases of catarrh, bronchitis, and similar diseases; and to this end my invention consists in the combination, with a main receptacle, ofa peculiar inlet-tube, in the manner hereinafter described, whereby the apparatus is rendered capable of use as a nasal douche or inhaler, as desired.

In the drawing, the part marked A indicates the main receptacle which, in the present instance, is of oval form, and is provided with a foot or stand, A and has a neck and opening in its upper part to receive the stopper or packing B in which the end of the draft-tube B is held, said end being passed through the stopper or packing so that the tube B communicates with the interior of the receptacle A, as indicated. The inlet-tube G is joined to the main receptacle A and communicates with the interior thereof at its lower part, in the manner shown, said tube 0 being formed in one piece with the body of the receptacle, and being turned upward and along the side of the receptacle, so that its upper part is near the upper part or neck of the main receptacle A. The upper portion of the tube 0 is bent so as to form a siphon-curve, D, and has a globular bulb, E, blown therein at a short distance from its end, which latter is turned upward and widened into a hell or funnel shape, as shown. The bulb E is formed at the low part of the tube between the siphon-curve D and outer end of the tube, and it is for the purpose of containing the hydrochloric acid or other medicinal liquid used to produce the vapor or gas to be inhaled. A pipe-bowl or tobacco-receptacle, F, may be fitted to the bellshaped end of the tube 0, the parts being fitted and made tight to each other by a suitable stopper or packing, G, ofrubber', cork, or other suitable material. The main receptacle A, draft-tube B, inlet-tube (J, and pipe-bowl 1* are, in the present instance, all made of glass but if preferred, the pipe-bowl F may be formed of meerschaum or other suitable pipe material, and a rubber or other flexible tube may be used for the draft-tube B. The receptacle A, inlettube 0, and bulb D are, however, preferably of clear glass.

To use the apparatus as an inhaler, fill the main receptacle A about one-half full of water, with the necessary quantity of ammonia or other prescribed medicinal substance added thereto; also place a small quantity ofhydrochloric acid or other prescribed substance within the bulb E, then inhale through the tube B in the ordinary manner. The apparatus as an inhaler is used with the tobacco-receptacle removed or emptied. The air, passing through the bulb E, becomes charged with the vapor from the acid, and being brought into contact with the ammonia as'it bubbles up through the liquid in the main receptacle, produces the gas or vapor to be inhaled, which gas passes to the patient through the tube B.

To use the apparatus as a nasal douche the main receptacle A is filled with water, which may be medicated or otherwise, as desired, and the tube B is inserted in place. The thumb is then to be placed over the end of the inlettube 0, and the apparatus inverted, as shown in Fig. 3. By placing the end of the tube B to one nostril and removing the thumb from the-end of the tube (3 the air is admitted into the receptacle A above the liquid, which latter is thus permitted to flow through the passage of the nose. By means of the thumb upon the end of tube 0 the patient is enabled to regulate the flow of the liquid at pleasure. Separate tubes B may be used for the nasal douche and inhaling processes, if desired, one being formed plain, and the other being provided with a bulbed end, H, the tubes being interchangeable in the stopper B A combined medical inhaler and nasal douche, consisting of the main receptacle A, standard A inlet-tube O situated entirely without the main receptacle and furnished with a siphon-bulb, E, and the draft-tube B, all as described, and for the purposes set forth.

EDWIN SOHOFIELD.

Witnesses:

GHAs. H. BURLEIG-H, GEO. J. MONY. 

